After a long job search, this 45-year-old is ditching corporate for nursing school—she wishes she'd done it earlier

What this means for your job search: Expect a highly competitive tech job market where even experienced professionals face extended job searches. Proactively network, tailor your applications meticulously, and be prepared to demonstrate highly in-demand skills to stand out. Kristy Layden spent over a year job searching after losing her job as a senior manager in e-commerce and fulfillment. Now she's going to nursing school instead.